“All of Me” began to play, and Wes and Rykerswayed together slowly among the other couples on the dance floor.Ryker remembered the song from the first night they spent together.He nuzzled his cheek against Wes’s as their bodies moved in asensuous tangle.Had it really been only a month since they’d met?It felt like their souls had known each other forever.
As the song neared its end, Wes stepped backand suddenly lowered himself to one knee.
Oh.My.God.
****
Wes
The plan had been to propose at theplanetarium, but then it hit Wes as they were dancing.The song wasright.The mood was right, and their family was there.This was themoment.So Wes went for it.
He bent down on one knee and took the ringbox out of his pocket.His hands trembled as he looked up intothose beautiful blue eyes that had claimed him from the very firstglance.
“Ry, I know we’ve only been together a shorttime, but I am so in love with you, and I’m ready to start our lifetogether.Right here.Right now.You knocked me on my ass themoment our eyes met, and I have yet to recover.”He paused andlicked his lips as the crowdooh-ed,ahh-ed, and madethe occasional whistle.“So here, in front of our family andfriends, and surrounded by love, will you be my husband?”he asked,opening the box to show Ryker the two white gold bands he’d pickedout.
There was silence in the room as Ryker stoodthere, tears slowly trickling down his stunning face as he mouthed,“Yes.”Wes could barely hear it above the pounding of his ownheart, but when the answer finally sank in, he rushed to his feetand bent Ryker back in a kiss so full of love and promise he neverwanted it to end.
After a few minutes, Ryker pulled away.“Areyou going to give me my ring?”he asked cheekily, and Wes rushed toplace the gold band on his finger.Ryker took the other ring andslipped it onto Wes’s left ring finger, then brought it to hismouth to place a kiss on it.“Love you,” he murmured.
They were suddenly surrounded by theirfriends and family, Ryker’s mom and sister both in tears.All ofthem offered hugs and excited congratulations.
“Fall wedding!”Luca yelled with both armsraised, and they all groaned.
“We just got engaged, man!”Wes protested asRyker laughed.
As much as Wes enjoyed having their lovedones around, he wanted to be alone with Ryker.Now.Wes grabbedRyker’s hand and hauled him out into the hallway.
“Wes, where are we going?Oomph!”
Wes claimed Ryker’s mouth in a kiss designedto drive him out of his mind.Their hot tongues dueled, and theirbodies slid against each other as they moaned their enjoyment.
“I need you, right now,” Wes whisperedurgently against Ryker’s swollen lips, pulling him into thebathroom and locking the door.
Fifteen minutes later, they emerged withtheir ties undone, their shirts half unbuttoned, their hair a mess,and their smiles so wide, it hurt.The jeers and whistles thatgreeted them when they reentered the ballroom caused Ryker to blushand Wes to bow.They quickly headed back to the dance floor to jointheir group.
“You know, we still have a book—well,several books—to finish.Are you sure you want to be stuck livingandworking with a grumpy, sarcastic writer who’s set in hisways?”Ryker asked as he wrapped his arms around Wes’s neck andswayed to the music.
Wes smiled as he rested their foreheadstogether, looking deep into Ryker’s blue depths.“As long as you’reokay sharing your life with a slightly egotistical, albeit supersexy, author who has bouts of writer’s block,” he replied, softlykissing Ryker’s lips.
“No worries,” Ryker whispered and kissed himback.“I have just the cure.”
Epilogue
Luca
Five Months Later
The air was crisp today.Golden leavesswayed and fluttered in the breeze, a warm explosion of coloragainst a cloudless blue sky.It was a perfect fall day for awedding in Central Park.
Two men stood on the edge of Bow Bridge, theornate iron railing providing a stunning architectural backdrop fortheir finest tuxedos.They were surrounded by a small group offamily and friends, as well as three well-behaved dogs wearingmatching bow ties.
The wedding was just as Luca had imaginedit: simple and elegant, down to the very last detail.All themonths of planning had been worth it.
Luca sighed as he watched his friend Wesmarry the love of his life.Wes and Ryker had differentpersonalities, but complemented each other in a way that Lucaenvied.With just a look or a quick touch, so much was said betweenthe two men that anyone near them could see how much love andrespect they had for one another.They’d only met six months ago,but it was love at first sight, and now they were married andstarting a new life together in New York City.That was what Lucadreamed to have for himself one day.
He turned his attention from Wes to thered-haired man standing beside Ryker—tall and imposing in a trimnavy-blue suit.Mac Duran.CEO.Socialite.Asshole.The sun lit uphis fiery hair, making his piercing green eyes pop.Mac’s squarejaw was clenched, but he wore a small smile—the only sign ofcontentment on his sharp, angular face.Those eyes glanced inLuca’s direction, and the intensity in them had Luca clenching hishands together.Then Mac’s eyes narrowed, and Luca felt heat risein his cheeks, despite the cool autumn weather.He would not backdown and be the one to look away.He wasn’t made like that.So hestood his ground until Mac finally relented and returned hisattention to the couple saying their vows.
Luca took a deep breath and willed his bodyto relax.Mac’s irritating effect on him was explosive, and heneeded to get himself under control before he said something he’dregret.Focus on the event at hand, he reminded himself.
